MAM
boAt appoints Damandeep Singh Soni as VP – growth
New Delhi: Lifestyle consumer electronics brand boAt has appointed Damandeep Singh Soni as new VP – growth. He will be responsible to drive the company’s function to make it the largest D2C company in India. He announced the development on his LinkedIn.
Prior to this, Soni was working as a senior advisor – marketing and growth at multiple startups like Whitehat Jr, Limeroad, Editorji, Snapchat and others to help their business grow, develop marketing strategies, and drive monetization strategies and revenue growth.
With over 20 years of experience, Soni has had an illustrious career. He was the India head for Line, a chat app, between 2014 and 2016. Later, he joined Mobikwik as a CMO and growth head for a period of two years. Soni also had a brief stint with Milkbasket as VP – marketing. He also started a few ventures of his own. Some of the other brands that he worked at includes Infosys, Wecash, and Nokia.
boAt is one of the first digitally native brands to record a revenue of Rs 500 crore in FY19-20. It was started in 2016 with a target audience of youth interested in fashionable consumer electronics. The product range has expanded to include an extensive catalog of headphones, earphones, wearable, speakers, travel chargers, and premium cables.
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
